MCDONALD'S SWNEWS4U.COM GAME OF THE WEEK (April 21–28)
TRACK AND FIELD: Cassville/Potosi Invitational
By A.J. Gates, Herald Independent / Tri-County Press / The Platteville Journal
PC ends Timberwolves' eight-game win streak
PATCH GROVE — Starting off their 2026 softball schedule with an eight-game winning streak, the Timberwolves of River Ridge looked to be the team to beat in the Six Rivers conference this season.
Their conference rivals from Potosi/Cassville might have entered last Tuesday night’s meeting in Patch Grove with a more modest record of 4–4, but coach Erin Kerkhoff’s squad was able to do what no other team has been able to.
With a two-run rally in the top of the seventh inning, PC handed the Timberwolves their first loss of the season in a tightly contest 4–3 battle.
After six innings of play, the Timberwolves held a 3–2 advantage over their guests, scoring one run in the bottom of the first inning and two big ones in the fifth.
The visiting Chieftains (5–5, 4–3 Six Rivers) got on the board first when junior pitcher Alayna Kerkhoff ripped a two-out double in the top of the first inning. She was replaced at second base by courtesy runner Autumn Bogedin, who scored on a River Ridge fielding error.
Ridge (8–3, 4–3) wasted little time coming up with an answer, where in the bottom of the first got a lead-off single from senior center fielder Josey Drone, followed by an RBI double by junior catcher Abby Doyle.
Potosi/Cassville then took a 2–1 lead in the top of the third inning, where Kerkhoff reached base on a one-out single and was again replaced by courtesy runner Autumn Bogedin.
The freshman runner advanced to second on an error and to third on a passed ball, before scoring on an RBI single hit by junior Kylee Droessler.
PC’s lead lasted until the bottom of the fifth inning, where Drone led off the inning by drawing a walk, and was sacrificed over to second on a bunt and moved over to third on a ground out.
Junior pitcher Erin Adrian then came up with a two-out single to score Drone, and after moving to second on a passed ball, scored on a hard liner hit back to the pitcher by junior right fielder Keele Redman.
River Ridge’s lead held up going into the seventh inning, where the Timberwolves were eventually just one out away from keeping their perfect record intact.
Potosi/Cassville senior Manhattyn Udelhofen ignited the spark for her squad, reaching base on an error with one out. She then advanced to second on a ground out.
Looking for the force out, coach Wade Winkers made the decision to put the winning run on base by intentionally walking Alayna Kerkhoff, who was 2-for-3 on the night with a double.
With runners now at first and second with two outs, PC senior Lillie Cooley stepped up to the plate, where she was 0-for-3 for the contest.
With a 2–1 count, Cooley ripped a two-run double to left field, scoring both Udelhofen and Bogedin, giving her team a 4–3 lead that held up for the victory.
With their backs up against the wall, the Timberwolves began the bottom half of the seventh with back-to-back ground outs before a strikeout ended the game with runners on first and second.
“I’m really proud of how this team competed from start to finish,” said PC coach Erin Kerkhoff. “Being down going into the seventh, they stayed confident and trusted each other.
“Our dugout was fired up and really brought the energy we needed. We had some great at bats to get ourselves in position, and Lillie came through with a huge two-out double when we needed it most. Then, to come back out and play solid defense and close it out in the bottom half, that says a lot about this team’s grit and focus.”
Leading Potosi/Cassville at the plate were Udelhofen, Kerkhoff and Ryleigh Meier, who each had two hits in the victory. Cooley had two RBI and Droessler one, as they drew one walk and struck out eight times.
In the pitching circle, Alayna Kerkhoff (5–5) struck out 10 River Ridge batters and walked five, while giving up three runs, two of which were earned, off six hits.
“Alayna had another strong night in the circle and locked in to finish strong,” said her coach and mother. “It was a hard-fought, complete team effort to get the win.”
River Ridge was led at the plate by Drone, who went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, while Abby Doyle had the team’s only RBI.
On Friday night, Potosi/Cassville was handed a 15–5 loss by visiting Barneveld in a shortened five-inning conference contest played at Cassville.
Limited to five hits, the Chieftains scored one run in the bottom of the first inning and four more in the bottom of the fourth.
Of Potosi/Cassville’s five hits, Alayna Kerkhoff accounted for two, while Kloe Sedbrook had the team’s only RBI on a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth.
Defensively, PC committed eight errors, leading to eight unearned runs for the Eagles.
In five innings of work, pitcher Kerkhoff gave up 15 runs, seven of which were earned, off 14 hits, while striking out six batters and walking three.
Potosi/Cassville will follow up this past Tuesday night’s game at Benton/Shullsburg with a road game at Monticello/Albany Thursday night before hosting Highland on Friday.
Potosi/Cassville 4, River Ridge 3
(from Tuesday, April 21 @ Patch Grove)
Potosi/Cassville...101 000 2 — 4 10 2
River Ridge..........100 020 0 — 3 6 1
Leading hitters — PC: Mahattyn Udelhofen 2x4 (R), Alayna Kerkhoff 2x3, Lillie Cooley 1x4 (2RBI), Ryleigh Meier 2x4; RR: Josie Drone 2s3 (2R). 2B — PC: Kerkhoff, Cooley; RR: Doyle.
W — Alayna Kerkhoff (5–4, 7IP, 6H, 3R, 2ER, 10K, 5BB). L — Erin Adrian (7IP, 10H, 4R, 2ER, 8K, 1BB).
